Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
GREY (GREYSON)
This was insufferable, listening to Ella brag about meeting famous people at New York clubs and then going on and on about her vacations.
How did she have time for school? I’d traveled too, but with football, my vacations hadn’t lasted long.
I shifted further into the corner of a modern leather couch we’d settled into, while partygoers stood in packs, laughing or dancing around us.
“And guess who was at the Marquee?” With her eyes twinkling, she sipped her drink and inched closer to my side.
“I don’t know, who?” I glanced at Malik and winced. Tiffany was talking his ear off on the matching sofa across from us. Was he as bored as I was? As her hand threaded through his, heat flickered through my chest. She had no business holding his hand.
“Post Malone.” She ticked her head. “He was really nice. And funny.” She giggled. “Have you ever met anyone famous like that?”
“I don’t know, a few models maybe? I don’t keep up with celebrities, so if I had, I probably wouldn’t even have known it.” Sipping my drink, I eyed it. Had Malik added vodka to it at all?
“Models.” She wrinkled her nose. “Have you ever dated a model?”
My gaze swung to her. “I have.” I didn’t want to elaborate. They’d been more concerned about my father’s bank account than me.
“Who?” Cocking her head, she narrowed her eyes.
“Uh, Melody Cousins. She was with Ford.” Dipping my gaze to my drink, resting in my lap, I chewed my cheek. “We only dated a few times. It’s not like she was a girlfriend.” She hadn’t done it for me. None of them ever had. I peeked at Malik. He was it for me.
“Hey, do you think I could model?” Lifting her chin, she struck a pose, straightening her spine. “What do you think?”
“I…yeah, sure.” I didn’t have an eye for something like that. After fingering the edge of my cup, I drank the rest of my drink.
She turned toward me, shifting on the couch, and came in close. “You could be a model. You’re very handsome, Greyson.” She ran her fingernail down the front of my thin sweater, her gaze locked on mine and her lips close. “I find you really attractive.” She brushed her mouth across mine.
Jesus, fuck. I twisted my head, grabbed her shoulder and pushed her away. “I, uh, need another drink. How about you?” As I hopped off the couch, my gaze landed on Malik, his gaze hard and jaw clenched. We had to escape this mess.
“Where are you off to?” Malik rose and planted his hands on his hips.
“Getting another round of drinks. Want to help me?” I glanced at Ella, pouting and downing her drink.
“Yes.” He took Tiffany’s cup from her and waited.
“Ella, pass me your cup so I can get you a refill.” I held my hand out.
With a pointed look at Tiffany, Ella gave me her cup. “Don’t be too long, boys. You don’t want to lose us to one of these frat boys.” A lop-sided smile quirked her mouth.
Malik tsked as he seized my elbow and hauled me into the kitchen. Through his teeth, he said, “I can’t do this anymore, Grey. I can’t sit here and watch you kiss her.”
“I didn’t kiss her.” Stomping into the kitchen and stopping at the liquor bottles, I faced him. “You know I don’t want her.” Hell, could I lose Malik over this? My chest stung. “Help me come up with an excuse so we can leave.”
His gaze softened as his shoulders relaxed. With a deep inhale, he shrugged and said, “Hell, we can just tell them the game took a lot out of us, and we’re exhausted. It wouldn’t be a lie.” He huffed. “We’ll tell them we’ll be better rested for tomorrow if they let us go home early tonight.”
With a nod, I tensed my lips and poured fresh drinks. It might work. “Did you put any alcohol in my drink?”
“Yeah, but not a lot. I gave the girls some strong-ass drinks, though. I’m surprised they’re not slurring right now.” He sniggered and added a little more vodka to the girl’s cups. “Tiffany smelled like a distillery when they got here.”
“Yeah, Ella did too.” How much had they drunk at the game? As I lifted two of the refilled cups, Malik grabbed the other two.
I said, “Let’s tell them after these drinks we need to go home.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He wagged his brows at me.
We’d been successful in convincing the girls they’d have a much better date with us tomorrow if they let us leave the party early.
They’d wanted to stay longer since Tiffany knew some of the frat boys at the party.
I hoped they’d both hook up with them. Maybe it would give Malik and me a break tomorrow.
I parked my car in our garage and followed Malik into the kitchen. All I wanted was him.
“You’re home early,” Tex said, sprawled across the couch and watching a gay Hallmark Christmas movie. “Didn’t go well, I take it?”
He knew about the situation and had kept his opinion to himself—at least with me he had. I wasn’t sure what he’d discussed with Malik. Tex probably thought I was an ass. “Yeah, we convinced the girls that the game exhausted us, and we needed our rest.”
“Well, that’s a win, then, isn’t it?” Tex lifted his brow and straightened. “Were the girls nice at least?”
“Nice enough.” Malik sighed and rubbed his eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it. We have another day of this shit tomorrow.” Frowning, he glanced at me.
“I’m sorry.” As an ache took hold in my chest, I hooked my arms around his neck and pulled him against me, kissing the side of his head. “It’ll be over by tomorrow night.”
“I know.” He slumped against me. “It’s okay, Grey.”
Tex clicked his tongue. “I feel for you guys, I really do. It’s got to be tough living a lie.”
I swallowed a lump climbing my throat. He hit the nail on the head. With my voice cracking, I said, “Let’s go to bed, Malik.” All I wanted was him next to me, skin to skin, nothing between us.
We’d gotten ready for bed, undressed and crawled under the covers in my bed. As I edged into his side and rested my cheek on his shoulder, an unbearable ache threaded through me. “Malik, can you hold me?”
“Of course.” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my head. “It’ll be okay, Grey. We’ll tough it out tomorrow, and then this will be over.” He brushed the back of my hair. “Let’s think about the future.”
God, how could he be so forgiving? I was putting us through hell, and for what? To keep my father happy? What about our happiness? “Okay,” I croaked as the corners of my eyes pricked.
“Do you have plans for Christmas? Because I’d love to bring you home to Santa Fe.” He wrapped a leg around mine, rolling into me.
“Yeah?” My lower lip trembled, and I braced myself.
Fuck, don’t lose it. He was so gracious about all this.
“I’ve made no plans. I’m sure my parents wouldn’t mind if I visited with your family for the holiday.
” Or would they? Would Dad expect me to come home to see Ella?
I’d refuse and tell him I’d already made plans with Malik’s family.
I’d tell him I’d made a promise. Curling my arm against his chest, I brushed my fingers along the stubble between his pecs.
“Okay, then it’s a plan. I’ll inform Mom and Dad, and I’m sure Shimá will want to see you.” He kissed my head again. “Grey, it’ll be okay. You’ll see.”
Nodding against his chest, I closed my eyes and lost myself in his warmth and strength. With him, I could do anything.
The next afternoon, we picked up the girls in my car, and I parked in a multilevel garage at the outdoor mall.
I’d spent the morning quietly studying. Malik and I had been dreading this date so much that neither of us had wanted to talk.
Despite Malik’s reassurances, it felt like something had driven us apart.
Last night had been the first time we’d shared a bed and not explored each other.
I wanted more than anything to eliminate the wedge between us and to be close to him again.
“We’re here.” I stepped out of the car, watching everyone do the same, and then I locked it. Temperatures would drop in Phoenix. Rain was moving in.
With a broad smile, Ella sauntered to me, her long red coat covering her black dress and her tall boots reaching her knees. Throwing an arm around my waist, she said, “Did you see all the Christmas decorations?”
Malik, dressed in a grey sweater with an open North Face jacket and jeans, grabbed Tiffany’s hand. “Yeah, they really do it up. Wait until dark when the palm trees all light up.”
With a giggle, Tiffany’s gaze raked over Malik, her red skirt showing under her black jacket, thick tights covering her legs. “Yes, Ella, isn’t it wild to see Christmas decorations with palm trees?”
“Sure, but I’ve holidayed in Hawaii for Christmas. It was similar.” Ella tightened the belt on her coat. “It was warmer, though.”
After zipping my leather jacket, I stuffed my hands into my jeans pockets. Shit, I hadn’t bought her that damn purse. In fact, I’d completely forgotten about it. Would any stores here carry it? “Let’s check out the shops.”
Ella wound her arm in mine and beamed at me. “Yes, let’s. I can’t wait to see what they have.”
We strolled down the stairs and onto the sidewalk, buzzing with families and couples.
I scanned the plaza, taking in the squarish modern buildings with condominiums on top and stores below, all higher end from what I could tell.
Centering the sidewalks was a long reflection pool with fountains splashing, and toward the end was a Christmas tree decorated in blue and gold.
Tall palms lined the walkway. “Let’s go this way. ” I strolled to our right.
After letting the girls explore inside a few clothing shops, we passed a boutique outside the main buildings with purses in the windows. “Oh, look, they might have the handbag I wanted.” She pulled me inside, and I glanced at Malik.
Hell, if I got Ella a purse, I’d have to get one for Tiffany, right? Dad was paying, so who cared? I stepped close to Malik. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” I rubbed my hands together as the girls bounced from one display to the next, chattering excitedly.